ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Israel on Tuesday conducted airstrikes against Hamas officials in Doha in an unprecedented attack on the Palestinian militant group's leadership in the Qatari capital, ushering in a wave of regional and international condemnations.

The Israeli military announced that it had "conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization," accusing its targets of being "directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre" and saying that they "have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel."

In October 2023, Hamas conducted a large-scale incursion into Israel that resulted in the deaths of almost 1,200 people, with Israel having garnered extensive international criticism for its subsequent invasion of the Gaza Strip and the beginning of a dire humanitarian situation for the Palestinian territory's inhabitants, over 64,000 of whom have been killed since late 2023, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Qatar's interior ministry announced that at least one member of its security forces was killed and multiple others injured in the attack. "According to preliminary information, the attack resulted in the martyrdom of Corporal Bader Saad Mohammed al-Humaidi al-Dosari, a member of the Internal Security Force," the interior ministry statement read.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a joint statement with Defense Minister Israel Katz, said that the strike on Doha came about following a shooting attack in Jerusalem on Monday in which six people were killed that was claimed by Hamas.

"Yesterday, following the deadly attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed all security agencies to prepare for the possibility of targeting Hamas leaders," the statement read.

"Today at noon, in light of an operational opportunity... the prime minister and the defense minister decided to implement the directive given last night," it concluded.

Netanyahu also claimed that the operation was unilaterally conducted by Israel, likely to allay allegations of US involvement, writing on X that "Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility."

However, a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Tuesday that Washington had received advance notice of the impending strikes.

Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari on X expressed Doha's condemnation of the attack, writing that "this criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar."

"While the State of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty," Ansari added.

The Iraqi foreign ministry joined in condemning the Israeli actions, describing the move in a statement as a "cowardly act that represents a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territory" of Qatar.

French President Emmanuel Macron on X said that the strikes "are unacceptable, whatever the reason," adding that "under no circumstances should the war spread throughout the region."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lamented the "flagrant violation" of Qatari sovereignty, telling reporters at a press conference that Doha has "been playing a very positive role to achieve a ceasefire and release of all [Israeli] hostages" in Gaza. 

Qatar has played a key role in mediating dialogue between Israel and Hamas in the pursuit of a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an Israeli group campaigning for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Strip, expressed concern for the fate of those held in captivity as a result of the strikes, saying that "the families of the hostages are following the developments in Doha with deep concern and heavy anxiety. A grave fear now hangs over the price that the hostages may pay."

Updated at 20:17 with Qatari interior ministry statement regarding the death of a member of the security forces in the attack